Replacing Upholstery

I know its been discussed before, but I cant find anything using the search feature.

Getting ready to re-upholster the interior of my 89 SN. Any tips / warnings from the guys that have done this before? I am planning on pulling the skins and re-installing the new ones myself.

Any suggestions on where to get new staples? I'm assuming I need to use Stainless?

Thanks for the tip, I didnt think HD or Lowes would carry the stainless ones.

Can give you more advice when the skins arrive. I am a trained upholsterer but do it only as a hobby, mostly home furnishings. Start with the easiest pieces to help the learning curve. Generally Pull over and loosly tack cover in the center of sides(magnetic tack hammer and tacks driven about half way so they can be removed), if all is centered well, staple from the centers to the corners, working all the sides a litle at a time rather than finishing them individually. Heat from a heat gun can help on complex corners but it takes a fine touch and it is easy to overheat and melt the skins. I usually heat from the back side. Some pieces have "Trimmers" to pull a center seam down. A piece of foam is removed and one half of the skin is tacked in place, then the trimmer can be stapled in and the remain ing foam piece put in place. tack the second half and then staple the whole piece. If you have not done this before there is a lot to watch making sure you are keeping all the sides pulled the same amount, and then staying the same from piece to piece. I did mine before I found this site, I wish I had done a photo series to show others.

I just had to take off my side panels while installing the stereo, a staple remover is a must, there are thousands of staples. I would say at the very least get a good electric stapler, if you have air, a pneumatic gun is even better. I borrow one from my upholstery guy, he loans out his old spare, it wasn't working properly and I had to take it aprart after every shot the last time. As you can imagine that got real old real quick, so I found some stainless staples for my hand stapler. It's a huge difference, very hard to get them where I wanted, and almost impossible to go through multiple layers on the corners with the handheld stapler. I've used an electric one to do trailer bunks before and they have the power, but air is the way to go if you can.

ok guys, do you recommend something liek this....

(Fencing pliers)


or this:

See if Rochford supply will sell to you online. Search staple lifter on their site. About 17$

Chris, where are you buying your skins? I'm planning the same project this winter.

I'm using http://www.copycatcovers.com/

Gary S wrote: Chris,sometimes the staples are labeled "monel" at some stores

FWIW, I went out of my way to find monel staples and they didn't work. The were too soft and just folded up when I tried to use them. Ended up getting regular stainless staples. Both were arrow brand.

Also, as far as tools, I used a screw driver to pull the staples and a hand gun to install. If I was doing it for a living I'd load up on better gear, but they didn't slow me down much at all. Building seat bases took me longer than installing the skins.

My cheapo electric arrow stapler was worthless. I wanted to use the wide crown staples, My upholstery stapler with thin wire staples drove great but you have to use groups of staples close together to prevent ripping through in situations like starting the middle of a side.

I dont have them yet. I went with Copycat purely based on price. I did see several good reviews from them on other forums, but also a few negatives like yours. For the price difference I am willing to take the chance. So far, they have been very good with communication and answering my questions. But I have yet to see an actual product. I should have them around christmas.

My boss just requested I recover his his Kawasaki PWC seat. It is a simple pull over cover but with compound curves. I hope to pick up some 4 way stetch vinyl early next week and do a photo set or video of the project. I will post it under a seperate topic.

Chris4x4gill2 wrote: Post a link to the thread here when you get it up!

I'll keep you informed. I let you know when the tutorial is done too.

a thread has been posted in the maintanece section titled upholstery process.

yes, it does help. Larger photos would be helpful, but I was able to see them pretty well as they are. Looks liek I need ot order a tack hammer and a staple puller still.